Unit heater



Patente a, as, 194

UNHT HEATER pany, Racine, Wis

Stempei and Erling IE; iohnson,

a cempany of Wisconsin Application January 23, 19%, Serial No. 375,570

The present invention relates to an improvement over conventional unit heaters of the class. wherein the heated or cooled air is discharged downwardly.

An object of our invention is to more unlformly discharge the air and over a larger area than has heretofore been possible by causing the air to flow downwardly spirally thus to make use of the principle of centrifugal force to cause the air to spread fan-like in every direction.

Another object of our invention is to cause the air, as it leaves the core, to impinge stationary blades which will act to spread the air fan-like and to assist this movement by means of outer and inner cone shaped rings.

A further object of our invention is to prevent vertical zones of difierent temperatures by first causing the downwardly flowing air to impinge stationary blades to thereby completely mix the air before it leaves the unit.

We accomplish the above stated objects by psitioning stationary blades directly under the heating or cooling core and providing means whereby the angle of the blades may be adjusted to accommodate different conditions. To these and other useful ends, our invention consists of parts, combinations of parts, or their equivalents, and mode of operation, as hereinafter described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational partially sectioned view of a well known unit heater equipped with our invention, the heater unit being shown with the near panel removed and the air distributing means being shown as sectioned on the center line of the same.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view similar to Figure 1 but taken at right angle to that shown in this figure, illustrating a modification of our air distributing device.

. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the device illustrated in Figure 3'.

As thus illustrated, the heat exchange unit is designated in its entirety by reference character A. The air directing means in its entirety is designated by reference character B. Unit/A comprises a vertically positioned preferably rectangular in cross section housing It having mounted therein a heat exchange core which in its entirety is designated by reference charac ter C,

The fan and motor are designated in their entireties by reference character D, the motor by means of bolts being secured to header ill of member C by means of a bracket H (see Figure 1). A suitable fan shroud i2 is provided extending from the inlet side of the housing downwardly and inwardly, terminating in a ring l3 which surrounds the fan blades so the air may be economically directed downwardly through core C.

Cur improved air directing means 18 may be used on any style unit, either round or rectangular, in which any style fan and core may form a part. Therefore unit A, as illustrated, bears no part of the present invention.

Unit A is adapted to terminate as at it. We provide an extension it which is secured to the bottom edge of member ill by means of suitably spaced plates l6 and in a manner whereby unit B may be quickly removed and replaced. Member I5 at its top is shaped exactly like the bottom of member to. Directly below its fastening to unit 'A, the walls of member l5 converge inwardly as at H, terminating as at l8 and having from this point downwardly, a ring l9.

We provide a cone shaped outlet 20, the upper end Zl of which is adapted to fit over member- IS. We provide a number of blades 25 each having at its outer end a bracket 26 and a bolt 211 which extends through members l9 and M.

We provide a cone shaped center portion 28 having an upwardly extending portion 29 with a cap closure 30. The inner ends of members 25 are provided with brackets 3i having inwardly extending bolts 32 which extend through member 29, the bolts having nuts 33, thus blades 25 may be turned to any desired angle and locked ii and :32.

It will be seen, by scrutinizing Figures 1 and 2 that after the air passes from core C, it will violently impinge blades 25 and will be diverted to an angular course so it passes from the bottom of cone 2B spirally, the angularity of the spiral depending upon the angle of blades 25 and somewhat upon cones 26 and 28.

Clearly if there are vertical zones of air, at difierent temperatures leaving core C, these zones will be broken up when the air contacts the blades and is whirled spirally do. flftti'tily through member 25.

Thus, when the air leaves member 20, it will be thoroughly mixed and have a uniform temperature. Clearly the action of centrifugal force on the air will cause it to spread out in every direction fan-like after leaving the blades.

The action of centrifugal force will be changed by changing the angle of the blades. The greater the angle of these blades, the sharper the spiral and the greater the air will tend to spread out fan-like toward the floor of the room served.

perceptible. The design shown in Figures 3 and 4, is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that six blades are made use of instead of four. blades, as illustrated, are somewhat narrower and positioned at a tranverse angle to thereby assist in moving the air outwardly fan-like; otherwise the device operates the same as the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

It, will be seen that various blades and positions of the same may be used in our unit 13. In Figures 3 and 4, parts which are similar to numbers The blades are designated by numerals 35 and members 28, 29 and 30 Havingthus shown tion, we claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a vertically arranged rectangular in horizontal section housing, a motor driven impeller fan positioned in the and described our inven- I ings in said fan shroud through which said rods extend, the rods being adapted to act as supports for the device, said motor having a, supporting bracket which extends through said fan shroud and being secured at its outer end to one of said headers, a relatively short air duct secured to the be discharged spirally and fan-like.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 including: a a centrally positioned member in the small portion of said outlet, the inner being secured thereto.

EDWARD H. STEMPEL.

ERLINGv E. JOHNSON. 

